Railways to carry out safety audit of rolling stock: Roy

"A multi-functional team of senior officials would be constituted to undertake the audit and submit a report within three months," Railway Minister Mukul Roy today said while asserting that passenger safety would continue to be the "top most priority".

A similar exercise will also be conducted for ascertaining the health of track infrastructure, he told a two-day general managers' conference of all zonal Railways and production units.

Noting that accidents at unmanned level crossings still remain an area of "concern", he said all road safety works should be personally monitored by the general managers and completed on "priority".

He said that zonal railways should also launch vigorous publicity drives to educate the road users for taking precautions while negotiating the level crossings.

Talking about security threats in trains and railway premises, he said all necessary steps including coordination with the state governments, completion of sanctioned works related to integrated security system etc. Should be be taken on priority basis.

Noting that Railways finances are "under strain" due to the implementation of the sixth pay commission, he felt there was an urgent need to improve earnings and exercise control on expenditure as well as to find innovative ways to increase the earnings. (MORE)